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The Modern Materialist

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  • A Riddle About Bean Bag Chairs

     


    Question: When is a bean bag chair not a bean bag chair?

     

    Read More...


    Posted Jun 26 2008, 09:00 AM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments
    Filed under: ,
  • Your Man Needs a Strap-On

     

    Here's a secret you may not know, ladies: your man could use a good strap-on. In fact, I bet you would enjoy him with a strap-on, as well. You might even say, if your man had a good strap-on, you'd throw your legs up, and relax.

    What am I talking about? Why, this of course:

    Read More...


    Posted Jun 24 2008, 01:30 PM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments
    Filed under: ,
  • Be a Frog

     


    Those darn frogs. They have the monolopy on sitting on leaves. I mean, look at that frog up there, so happy... Devil may care, if you will. And all because he's sitting on a leaf. I think it's time we took the leaves back for the humans:

    Read More...


    Posted Jun 24 2008, 10:30 AM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments
    Filed under: , ,
  • The $7000 [Sleeping Bag] Chair



    It is somewhat ironic that a $7000 chair is named the Antidiva, don’t you think? I’m sure they were going for Anti-divan, and left off a letter to be cool; but really, how much would you pay for the above chair?

    Granted, the “chair” is completely customizable, as you can roll it out like a sleeping bag, ball it up and lay on it, or use it as a chair. The outer cover is made of black leather, The inner part, velvet, in your choice of colors. The cushions themselves are filled with polystyrene, missed with waterlilies. And it’s from Italy! Hooray!

    That all being said… $7000? Really? Am I wrong, Materialistas? Check out a few more pics, and let me know what you think in the comments section:

    Read More...


    Posted May 27 2008, 06:00 PM by Alex Zalben with | with 2 comment(s)
    Filed under: ,
  • What Do You Think This Is?



    Is the item in the picture above:

    A) An art installation.
    B) A bench.
    C) A storage unit. 

    Find out the answer, after the jump. 

    Read More...


  • Rocking Bear

     

    Swedish design firm Com-pa-ny has a number of delightful and weird products on their extremely difficult to navigate website, including the above wearable beards [ Approx. $61], but for my money, the best one is this Rocking Bear:

    Read More...


  • Splish Splash, I Was Sitting Around

     

    This sweet looking chair concept by designer Michael Wendel approximates the splash of milk, as seen through a camera’s macro lens.

    The whole thing is actually from a 3-D rendering of said flash, blown up several times, and cast in foam, resin, fiberglass, high epoxy paint, and, wait for it… Several layers of Elmers Glue.

    A top-down look at the chair, after the jump, but first my question to you is: yeah, it looks cool, but you think it’s comfortable?

    Read More...


    Posted May 20 2008, 02:00 PM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments
    Filed under: ,
  • Chair 2.0



    Designer Andrea Ruggerio has designed a striking, and multi-purpose chair concept that I will probably buy the second it comes onto the market.

    The idea is that you can use it as a simple stool or chair. Or, as you can see above, it has a shelf suitable for a laptop or other device. This is actually, I think, even more multipurpose than the designer has noted for in the design… You can easily use this for drinks, writing, snacks, and more. It’s a nice, sleek alternative to a school-desk; almost, if you pardon the term, Chair 2.0.

    A pic of the chair in “action,” and then linkage below:

    Read More...


    Posted May 16 2008, 03:30 PM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments
    Filed under: ,
  • Ooch Armchair Brings Multiple Pillows

     

    Sanniadesign has created a fun and practical chair concept: take one frame; add four pillows; that’s it. So you have the option of having a princess and the pea style chair, or take the pillows out for up to three friends (I assume you wouldn’t want to sit on the frame by itself, though I guess you could).

     The chair will be shown at an upcoming furniture show, though there’s not a lot of info on which one, or when. Sanniadesign also has a number of other concepts on their website, but the one that jumped out at me was this:

    Read More...


    Posted May 09 2008, 03:00 PM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments
    Filed under: ,
  • Vans Sk8-HI Sneaker Chair

     

    The beanbag is tired. The giant hand chair has been played out since Arrested Development left the air. So what is a giant novelty chair fiend to do?

    Find out, after the jump... 

    Read More...


    Posted May 01 2008, 11:00 AM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments
    Filed under: ,
  • Do Ewe Want This Chair?

    I have zero info on how to purchase this chair, and let's be honest: you don't want any. Absolutely horrifying.


    That being said, if anyone finds any info on where to pick this, up, let me know. 

    [Via Freshome


    Posted Mar 14 2008, 03:30 PM by Alex Zalben with | with 1 comment(s)
    Filed under: ,
  • Boom Chair Takes Your Gaming To The Next Shaky Level


    Those of us who game a lot know how simultaneously important, and unnecessary the rumble pack in your controller is. There are very few games who use the nuance of the pack correctly (God of War comes to mind). Most just shake a little when you get shot, and that’s it. How is that an interactive experience? You get shot, and your hands shake a little? Just like in real life, right Gears of War? Jeez.

    Enter the Boom Chair Rumbleseat, which will rumble your whole body, while blasting the sounds of video games from right under your feet. It has RCA jacks, headphone jacks, and a wireless transmitter, as well as a few more stats, after the jump...

     

    Read More...


    Posted Mar 06 2008, 01:30 PM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments
    Filed under: , ,
  • Transformers



    Okay, we’re not quite to the killer robot stage yet, but Transformers are here, if you look closely enough. And, they’re marking the first wave of their invasion by turning into chairs.

    Evidence point #1: The Cube Chair (above), which transforms from a box, into a chair. To be perfectly honest, I don’t quite see the point of this… It’s not like it saves any space at all, and there’s not a huge market for transportable armchairs… OR IS THERE???

    [$3750, Heinz Julen]

    Another terrifying chair, after the jump... 

    Read More...



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  • about the blogger

    Wendy Atterberry is a recent transplant to New York City via Chicago. You can often find her at some karaoke dive bar singing her repertoire, which includes "Midnight Train to Georgia," "Daniel," and most recently, "Sweet Dreams." Don't expect her to always hit the right notes. She lives in Manhattan with her boyfriend and two cats, and has a blog like everyone else.

    Alex Zalben is a writer living in New York City. He's written for McSweeney's, Modern Humorist and PulpSecret.com. As one-fifth of the sketch comedy group Elephant Larry, he has been written up in the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, and pretty much every other major publication. Their blog was named one of PC Magazine's Top Blogs for 2007, and they recently won an ECNY Award for their viral short, "Minesweeper: The Movie." Alex did not know love until he bought his first Mac.

    Steph Auteri is a freelance just-about-everything, with a special fondness for home goods she can't afford. She has been published in Publishers Weekly, New York Press and Nerve. She runs the blog selfhelpme.net, and her work can be found at stephiswrite.com.

    Editorial Director, Nerve Media:
    Michael Martin

    Send tips to modernmaterialist@nerve.com